Rail joint



D 9, 1924. T. K. MILLER AIL JOINT Filed May 20, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 T. K. MELLER Deg, 9 924:

RAIL JOINT 2 Sheets-S 2 Filed Ma 20 //V//// M w w Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES TIM KNOX MILLER, 01 SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

RAIL JOINT.

Application filed May 20,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that I, TIM KNOX MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in rail joints and has for an important object thereof the provision of a rail joint in which the use of bolts is substantially eliminated.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the solidity of connection afforded by the joint is not sacrificed in any way and in which the device at the same time may be very readily assembled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character eliminating to as great an extent as possible the alterations in the usual structure of the track rails.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will in no manner interfere with the usual operation of laying the rails and which will necessitate no changes in the tie construction at present employed These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rail joint constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1';

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective of the end of the rail as employed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the fish plate employed;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the locking piece employed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates thehead of a rail, 11 the web thereof and 12 the base. In accordance with my invention at each end of the rail the head and a portion of the web 11 are notched out, as indicated at 13, and the flanges of the base have 1924. Serial No. 714,692.

will be obvious that when the rails are placed in abutting relation the heads 10 of adjacent rail sections will be spaced from one another and the notches of the webs will combine to form a double notch of the same width as the spacing of the rail heads.

The numeral 15 indicates fish plates each constructed to fit against the rail web and beneath the heads of the adjoining rails, as indicated at 16, and upon the flange of the base of the rail as indicated at 17. The under surfaces of these fish plates have projecting downwardly therefrom spaced lugs 18 adapted to enter the openings 14 of the rail flanges of adjoining rails so as to prevent longitudinal separation of the rails. The fish plates preferably are of such thickness that their outer surfaces are vertically aligned with the side face of the rail head and the fish plates are provided in these outer surfaces at the upper ends thereof with rabbets19 of the same length as the combined notches 13 of adjoining rail sections and of a depth of approximately one-half the transverse thickness of the fish plate. The lower end of this rabbet is preferably, but not necessarily, aligned with the bottom edge of the notches 13. The numeral '20 designates a locking piece consisting of a short section of metal of the same shape as the head of the rail having projecting downwardly from its center a flange 21 of the same thickness as the web of the rail and of a depth equal to the depth of the notch 13 of the web, so that when the bottom of the flange 21 is resting upon the web 11 of the'rail the upper surface of the locking piece 20 is flush with the upper surface of the rail. Projecting downwardly from the sides of this locking piece are further flanges 22 extending into and filling the rab-' bets 19 of the fish plates. The fish plates, flange 21 and flanges 22 are provided with aligned openings receiving a securing element 23, the opening of one of the flanges 22 being preferably threaded, as at 24, for the reception of the threaded end of this securing element.

It will be seen that when the locking piece is in position outward moveme'nt of the upper ends of the fish plates is prevented and this outward movement is necessary before the lugs 18 maybe withdrawn from the. opening 14 of the flanges of the rail base. Accordingly, longitudinal movement of the rail sections is prevented and transverse di'splacement will, of course, be prevented by the length of engagement of the fish plates with the web of the rails. a a ,4 v

Many changes and modifications being possible in:,the above'structure'without mate-ri ally departing from the spiritof my invention, I do not limit myself to; such specific structureas hereinbefore set forth except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 7 1. Incombinatio-n with apair of adjoining rails having their ends notched'to- ,cut back the head and a portion of the .web thereof from the end of the-rail, a pair of fish plates abutting opposite side faces of the rail and having means engaging the rail preventingv longitudinal separationrof-t the rail sections, a locking piece corresponding in shaping to the rail having a length equal to the distance between adjacent; ends of the rail heads and provided uponits under surface with aflangeextending down wardly and resting upon the webs-:of the adjoining ends of the-rails at'the basewof the notches'thereof when the upper surface of the locking piece is flush with the head of the rail, and means extending through said fish plates'and locking piece forecouring the lockingpiece and fish plates against movement with relation to one another.

2.-In combination with a pair ofadjoin ing rails having their ends notched to cut back the head and a portion-of the web thereof from the end of the rail,::a-pair: of fish plates abuttingopposite side-faces-of the rail and. having :means engagingthe rail 4. adjoining ends of the rails at thebase of the notches thereof when the upper surface of the .locking piece is flush with the head' of the rail, and .means extending through said fish [plates and lockingpiece for securing the, locking, piece and fish plates against movement with relation to one another, said means for preventingfl.

relative longitudinal movement of the, rail and fish platescomprising lugs formed on "'saidfish plates and extending into openings formed i-n-therail. V j I 4. In combination with a pair of adjoining railshaving their ends notched to cut back. thehead. and a portion ofthe web thereof from the end of the rail, a pair of fish-plates 1 abutting opposite side faces of the rail and having means engaging the rail -preventing longitudinalseparation of the -ra1l sections, a locking piece corresponding;

in shaping to the. rail'having a length'equal to the distance between adjacent ends of the rail heads and provided upon its under sur-.

' face with. a flange extending downwardly plates and locking piece for securing the .locking piece. and fish plates against move? I11GI1U with relation to one 7 another, said a nd'resting upon the webs of the adj oining preventing"longitudinal separation of-the lockingy piece having flanges extending a downwardlyfromtheunder surface and at rail sections, a locking, piece corresponding in shaping to the rail havingfla length equal. to the distance between adjacent-ends "of of the rail, and means extending through {the sides thereofeengaging the outer face #01 thefish-platts, said securing meansexthe rail heads'and provided uponits' unde'r-*v tending,v throughthe last namedflanges of the locking piece, said fish plates having-Z- formed in the outer surface thereof rabbets which the last named flanges engage and 1 againstthe bottom of which the last named flanges rest. I T

5. -Incoinbination with aipair of adjoinsaid fish plates and locking piecefor scour ing rails havingtheir ends notched to out hack the head and a portion of the web ing the locking piece and fish plates againstmovement with relationto one another, said lock-ing piece having flangesextending wthereof from the end oftherail, a pair of nfish plates abutting opposite side 'faces-of preventing longitudinal separation of .the

rail-sections, a locking piece corresponding in shaping toithe rail having a length equal to the distance between adjacent ends of s the rail heads and provided upon its under surface: with a flange extending-1 down-. wardly and resting upon thewebs of the adjoining'ends"ofthe rails at "the baseo-f the notches thereof when the upper surface downwardly fromthe under surface and at:t the rail and having means-engaging the-rail the 'S1Cl8S thereof engaging the :outer: face, of

of the locking piece is flush with the head of the rail, and means extending through said fish plates and locking piece for securing the locking piece and fish plates against movement with relation to one another, said locking piece having flanges extending downwardly from the under surface and at the sides thereof engaging the outer face of the fish plates said securing means extending through the last named flanges of the locking piece, said fish plates having formed in the outer surface thereof rabbets in which the last named flan es engage and against the bottom of which the last named flanges rest, the fish plates abutting and fitting against the under surface of the head and the upper surface of the base of the rail.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

TIM KNOX MILLER. 

